Fashion billionaire falls to his death

The 71-year-old founder of fashion chain Mango and one of the richest men in Spain, Isak Andic, has died in a hiking accident

Isak Andic, the founder and owner of the Spanish fashion retailer Mango, has died at the age of 71 after slipping while hiking on Saturday with relatives near Barcelona. According to police reports, Andic fell over 150 meters (nearly 500 feet) from a cliff in the Montserrat caves.

His family called emergency services at around 12:30 pm local time, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais. A helicopter and an ambulance were dispatched, and they confirmed his death upon arriving at the scene.

In a statement, Toni Ruiz, CEO of Mango, expressed his sorrow: “It is with deep regret that we announce the unexpected death of Isak Andic, our non-executive chairman and founder of Mango.”

Born in Türkiye, Andic moved to Catalonia in the 1960s and founded Mango in 1984. Under his leadership, the company grew to nearly 2,800 stores worldwide, reporting a turnover of €3.1 billion ($3.26 billion) in 2023. Forbes estimated his net worth at $4.5 billion. He was believed to be the richest man in the region and one of the wealthiest in Spain.

The Catalan regional government head Salvador Illa praised Andic as a significant figure in the fashion industry, stating, “he leaves an indelible mark on the Catalan and global fashion sector.” 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez sent his condolences to Andic’s family in a post on X. “All my love and recognition for his great work and business vision, which has turned this Spanish firm into a world leader in fashion,” Sanchez wrote. 

Mango, like its rival Inditex, known for Zara, adapts quickly to fashion trends while maintaining affordable prices. The company outsources production primarily to lower-cost regions in Türkiye and Asia, operating under a single brand without any factories of its own.